Additional Ways to Keep Your Home Warm

Published on: 15 December 2017 Last Updated on: 20 July 2024
Keep Your Home Warm

Having a good furnace is the most important thing you need if you want to keep warm in the winter. Hopefully, you have performed an important annual service before you started using your furnace regularly. If you haven’t, you should consider doing so now, because you can never be too sure that your furnace won’t fail you.

If, however, it does, you will need help from professionals like hughesairco.com. Keep in mind that having a good furnace is not the only thing that helps your home feel warm. While a furnace will heat up your home, it is the insulation that will help it stay warm. Here are some useful tips about insulation.

Windows

Your windows are probably the biggest source of heat loss at your house. The large glass surfaces aren’t good at keeping the warmth in by themselves, so they may need some help from you. There are several improvements you can make to your windows which will make them a source of savings rather than a black hole when it comes to conserving energy and heat.

Read More: Essential Things To Consider Before Hiring A Window Tinting Expert

Double Pane Windows

The simplest way to preserve some heat inside your home is to have double pane windows. There is not much to explain about the appearance of these windows. There are two panes of glass with air in between them. The reason why they work well to preserve heat is the way heat is transferred.

Solid objects are much better at heat transfer than gases are. That’s why you can put your hand inside the hot oven but really shouldn’t touch anything. Similarly, the glass heats up far quicker than the air but is also much quicker to lose the heat. So, the inside pane of glass heats up from the contact with the inside air. If there was nothing between that pane of glass and the outside air, the heat transfer would be just as quick.

However, with double pane windows, the glass needs to transfer the heat to the air in the middle, which is slow to take the heat and slower to transfer it to the outside pane, and subsequently to the outside air.

Read More: Before You Forget : Things You Need To Consider Before Windows Replacement

Window Insulation

Windows need to have some sort of stripping on them. However, not all stripping is the same. There are different materials which are more or less suited to insulate the window. Make sure to research thoroughly which kind suits your needs and the climate of your home. Be sure to check the weather stripping around all of your windows. If it is old and cracked, it is time to change it. In most cases, you should be able to do it alone, but if you feel like you aren’t the person for the job, contact a contractor.

When it comes to insulation, you have another option. Clear plastic films which attach to the inside of your windows and insulate it from within. Most hardware stores carry these items and, like the weather stripping, they are inexpensive and really easy to install on your windows. The same effect can be achieved with plastic kitchen wrap or bubble wrap, but the end result will not be as appealing as with professional items designed specifically for that purpose.

Repair the Gaps

In some cases, the insulation of your house itself might be lacking, especially near the windows. If you bought the house and don’t really know the state of the insulation, make sure to check that with an expert. Once you have identified the weak spots, it is an easy task to fix the problem.

Keeping your house well insulated will prevent you from pushing your furnace to work overtime and potentially damage it, especially during the peak heating season.

To contact Hughes Air Heating & Cooling
220 W 6th Ave, Mesa, AZ 85210, USA
480-247-6927

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Homemade Carpet Cleaning

10 Trends About Homemade Carpet Cleaner You Should Know

There are a lot of do-it-yourself enthusiasts in the world. It’s because there are so many things you can make on your own without having to purchase expensive products. There are many homemade solutions that work just as well, if not better than anything you could buy from a store. The 10 trends below are homemade carpet cleaning solutions that can help you in a bind. 1. Food Stains: Dropping something like ketchup on your carpet can be frustrating because of its bright color and the concern that you’ll never fully remove the stain. There are many ways to remove this type of stain. A preferred method is to use a paper towel and a detergent made from liquid soap. After combining the detergent with water, dab it onto the stain gently and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. Then use another paper towel to remove excess water. You can also use a vinegar and water solution for this type of stain. Sometimes food stains are stubborn, so you might need to use the solution more than once. 2. Beverage Stains: There are so many different beverages that can be problematic when spilled on the carpet. This includes juice, coffee, wine, and just about anything else that has a dark color. A great way to remove beverage stains from carpet is by using a cloth soaked with warm water and blotting the area until the substance is completely removed. Sometimes water alone will remove the liquid if it’s taken care of immediately. However, there’s a chance that you’ll need a strong solution, which can also be made at home. You can simply add an equal part of white vinegar to the water before dabbing it onto the carpet. 3. Oil Stains: Oil stains on the carpet can come from a lot of different sources. Sometimes it’s from using creams and lotions that end up on the carpet. Perhaps there are stains from butter or some type of cooking oil. Many types of oils can be removed with a solution made from either liquid detergent and water or vinegar and water, depending on your preference. 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You may need to repeat this process. 8. Strong Odors: Removing odors from the carpet will usually start with vacuuming to ensure you’ve removed any dirt and particles that might be causing the odor. Once that’s done, you can sprinkle baking soda onto the carpet to freshen things up. The baking soda should be left overnight before vacuuming again. 9. Natural Fiber Carpets: Sometimes natural fibers are easier to clean, but they might require extra care. A highly effective solution that can be used for virtually any type of stain on natural fibers includes about two tablespoons of ammonia and a cup of warm water. You can also make a solution with a half cup of vinegar and the same amount of water. Whether or not you choose to use a spray bottle or a bowl is up to you. When using a spray bottle, be sure to spray lightly. 10. Synthetic Fiber Carpets: Removing stains from a synthetic carpet can be handled in several different ways. Prepare a solution that you can pour onto a cloth and gently apply to the carpet. It’s best not to pour the solution directly onto the carpet. You can try a cup of white vinegar mixed with two cups of water to remove the stain for a natural option. You can also try using any liquid detergent that you like combined with warm water. The mixture is half a teaspoon of detergent and two cups of water. These are all great ways to remove different types of carpet stains. You can also get help removing tough stains at carpestology.com.au. Read Also: Five Easy Steps When Cleaning Your Mattress 10 Ways To Preserve Your Carpet’s Beautiful Design

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Roofing Painting

Roofing Painting Contractor Leads: Ask Before Hiring One

Are the shingles of your roof starting to get loose? Or perhaps the entire roof itself is in need of a fresh paint job but you can’t do it yourself? For roofing and painting contractors in your area – especially those working alongside a lead generation firm like Ippei Leads – anything you want them to do to your roof is a blessing as it means yet another business opportunity. But before hiring one to fix or repaint your roof, here are four questions you might want to ask them first: 1. Can they meet your roofing needs no matter what type your roof is? The roofing and painting contractor you want to hire should be able to service these two major types of roofs: Residential roofing, which is typically easier to repair and repaint Commercial roofing, whose massive size and lower slope make fixing and repainting it more challenging yet profitable at the same time If the roof of your place of business is leaky, for example, and the contractor you talked to doesn’t have any experience with fixing commercial roofing, you shouldn’t hire them since they most likely wouldn’t know how to tackle the said problem. Also, if you need to have the whole roof of your house replaced with a brand new one, and the contractor you contacted hasn’t dealt with residential roofing before, you should skip them lest you want them to install an oversized one that’s more suitable for commercial use. 2. Do they have the license to operate as a roofing and painting contractor? Aside from their knowledge of both residential and commercial roofs, the roofing and painting contractor you plan on hiring should have a license to operate, most especially in the following states where it’s a requirement: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Florida Hawaii Idaho Illinois Louisiana Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Nevada New Mexico North Carolina (but only if the roofing job will cost you at least $30,000) RhodeIsland South Carolina Utah Virginia If you reside or run a commercial building in any of these states, and the contractor couldn’t show you an authenticated copy of their statewide license, don’t hire them. 3. Do they have both liability and workers’ compensation insurance? The roofing and painting contractor you want to hire may know the difference between a residential and commercial roof. They may also have the license to operate in the state where you reside or do business. But aside from these, you should ask them upfront if they’ve got the following two types of insurance that will shoulder them financially in case of any mishap during the roof repair or repainting job: Liability insurance: There’s no telling when a contractor’s worker may accidentally drop a rusty nail or any tools on top of your (or your customer’s) head while doing the job or someone suddenly passes out after smelling the noxious fumes emitted by the paint. It’s important for the contractor to have liability insurance so their insurer can cover some or all of the medical expenses resulting from an injury during the repair or repainting job. Workers’ compensation insurance: Even if you or anyone else not connected to the contractor you hired didn’t sustain any injuries at all, a worker of theirs might suddenly get caught in a slip and fall accident while fixing or repainting your roof. The contractor should secure a workers’ compensation insurance so financial assistance can be provided to cover their crew’s medical costs and lost wages until the said person is physically capable of working for them again. It’s also a big plus if the roofing and painting contractor also carries commercial vehicle insurance aside from the two mentioned above to protect the cars, trucks, or vans that they use to do their job. 4. Do they have a contract prepared for you? As evident in their name, a roofing and painting contractor should show you a contract before repairing or repainting your roof. The said document should be legally binding and must contain the following: A detailed description of the repair or repainting job the contractor will do to your roof Breakdown of materials they’ll use for the roof repair or repainting job The estimated total cost of the said job Dates when they'll fix or repaint your roof A warranty of at least one to two years wherein you can have any part of your roof replaced if ever they accidentally damage it while fixing or repainting it A termination clause wherein the contract itself could become null and void if either you or the contractor violates any of its terms and conditions Don’t hire a roofing or painting contractor who plans to take on fixing or repainting your roof with only a handshake or verbal agreement to seal the deal. Conclusion: Roofing and painting contractors in America have been experiencing an upward profit margin growth since 2014. No wonder then that there are several of them as of late. But you can’t afford to get stuck with one who might do a sloppy job of fixing or repainting your roof which can lead to further problems down the road for you. So, before hiring a roofing and painting contractor for your roof, you should ask them first the four questions listed above to avoid any regrets on your end. Read Also: 5 Myths About Roofing Services To Avoid Professional Roofing Services And Different Decorating Styles

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Bedroom

Cheap and Simple Tips to Give Your Bedroom a Makeover

We should invest in our bedroom. After all, this is our retreat after a long day, our haven. It’s where we can relax and meditate. You don’t have to break the bank to have a cozy bedroom. Whether you have a small space or a big and spacious bedroom, you can revamp your area at an affordable price. You can go ahead and search the net for whatever blog feels appropriate to your DIY bedroom makeover! Here are cheap and simple tips to give your bedroom a new look: Clean Your Room:   It’s free! If you've been the busy type, you may find old receipts scattered on your dresser, expired products, clothes you no longer use, trinkets, and knick-knacks that are just gathering dust. Some tips when cleaning your room include: Throw away things that no longer give value to you. Donate items that are still in good condition but you no longer need. Pass off items to friends and family that you may feel would better serve them than you. No matter how you style your room, a messy one will destroy its overall look and feel. Want to know why hotel rooms always have a very comfortable feeling? No unnecessary things are lingering around. Organize Your Products, Cosmetics, and Clothes: Bins, bins, and even more bins! Use one color and style of containers, and each one should store one category of products. Clear and transparent drawers give a sleek and polished look and let you see what’s inside. Your motto should be: Everything always has its place. Clothing pieces that are "loose" and "awkward" on hangers (like underwear, socks, ties, scarves) will look neat if you store them in organizers specifically made for them. Other ways you can organize your products, cosmetics, and clothes include: Start by decluttering and throwing away expired products and by donating clothing pieces that you haven’t used in the last six (6) months. Put your makeup brushes all in one cup holder, mug, or whatever you can find lying around your home that you haven’t necessarily been using anymore. If you have boxes that are unused, wrap and decorate these boxes so you can use them to store makeup by kind: blush, foundation, eyeshadows - all in their place. Sort and divide your clothes by kind: jackets all in one place, jeans, shirts, blouses, dresses, and so on. Sorting will help have all your clothes in plain sight. Maintain the organization system that you have created (so when you get an item, put it back to where it belongs - don’t mix and match again!) If you can use the space under your bed, do so. You can keep shoes hidden from sight to minimize clutter. Clean Those Sheets or Buy a New Set! Maybe you've put off cleaning your sheets in a long time. Now is the time to do it! A fresh, crisp, and clean set of sheets or colourful decorative bedding will significantly change the look of your room – and the feel of it, too. If you haven't already done so, now could also be the time to take advantage of that ongoing homeware sale. Making a big switch from your all-white set to being more adventurous and going for decorative bedding will totally revamp the look of your room! Buy new sheets to replace your dying, old ones. On this note, too, make sure your set of sheets match the overall theme and color scheme of your bedroom. Mismatched sheets will blotch the look of your room. The Floor Matters, Too: If replacing your flooring isn't on the budget right now, rugs can do just the trick. If your existing carpets are dirty and too old looking, then maybe like your sheets, it's about time to get new ones as well. A good trick is to use dark-colored rugs for high-traffic places like your bedroom door so that dirt isn't readily visible. For accent rugs, go bright or printed. Other tips when selecting a rug for your bedroom include: Study your floor plan and choose the rug that best fits the area that you’re going to fill. Focus on the style that suits your bedroom: floral, Persian, classic, geometric, monochromatic. See what your room needs. Choose the right material. For bedrooms, rugs made out of light elements are acceptable. Most importantly, pick a rug that you can maintain. Change Old Knobs, Hooks, Locks, and Hardware: Switching from silver to gold hardware or from gold to rose gold will do wonders. Just make sure that you stick to one hardware color! It’s not the right area for you to mix and match. Cabinet knobs and handles of different styles and materials are available in hardware stores and online, and installing them is as easy as one, two, three! Here are some tips on how to choose the perfect style and colour for your bedroom: Always stick to your theme. Don’t forget about functionality! Pick the kind of hardware that you’re comfortable using. Have the same finish throughout either glossy, nickel, matte, brass, etc. Remember the quality. Don’t settle for hardware with decorative purposes only. Make sure your chosen one will last you for years. You’re trying to stay cheap - not to remodel every year. Buy Brand New Lights and Lamps: Manufacturers usually come up with new and innovative lights and lamps each season. Having one statement piece will move your room from boring and dull to creative and soothing. (Bonus tip: yellow lights in your bedroom will set the mood for relaxation. Imagine yourself being in a hotel room in the comfort of your own home every night! Here are some tips when choosing the perfect light: Go for LED lights. You want to be an eco-warrior, too. Dimmer switches are perfect for your bedroom! Here you can control the brightness, which makes your overall ambiance more relaxing. Keep your lamps close to your bed - so you can have the convenience of not having to stand up each time you want to switch on (or off) a lamp. Make sure the lighting you choose is easy to maintain. Install a Headboard or Hang an Art Piece: A headboard can instantly bring elegance into your room. You don’t even have to buy a new bed at all. Hanging up a piece of art or a portrait on top of your headboard will also make your room look well put together. Wall clocks can be a good option as well, aim to choose the best wall clock to complement your bedroom. Wall clocks are artistic and modern which is the perfect piece for a room makeover. Go Green! Add in plants that require little to no sun exposure at all. If you can, however, go for fresh plants. Plastic plants cost more and will also collect dust and dirt. Certain plants can even cleanse and purify the air in your room naturally. Plant baskets have also become quite popular with so many beautiful options. Use Only One Color of Hangers: Hang all your clothes in a uniform direction and use only one color for all your hangers. Doing this will instantly reduce eyestrain. Black is a great color option as it neutralizes the various shapes and styles of clothing pieces that you may have. Repaint Your Room: Even if this is all you’ll focus on, a fresh new paint color will improve and change the overall look of your room. If you can do it yourself or ask a friend to help you out, then the better! You’ll be able to save more money. Try incorporating in an accent wall with prints or one with a different color. Some tips when choosing the right paint color includes: Choose your inspiration and know your theme. Be sure your paint color will match your theme. Make sure your paint color will look good when the lighting is either on or off. If you’re still confused, go for neutrals. Don’t be afraid to use testers first. Don't Forget the Details: Make your small room look bigger by installing a mirror. Increase height by using vertical blinds or curtains. Add in photo frames. Buy an alarm clock that can also serve as a decoration. If you’re going for a boho-chic look, you can put up string lights or fairy lights. Overall: Use these ideas to get started. Take a quick look at your room and see where and how you can apply any of these tips! A brand new place is now at the tip of your hands. Get those creative juices flowing and sleep sound and well tonight. Read Also: 5 Ways To Make A Big Statement In Small Bedroom 5 Innovative Ideas To Lend Your Bedroom With More Space

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